Author Archives: Jeanne Jackson

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On Tuesday, Craig Tooley and Shirley Mitchell, each took walks before more rain arrived. They each found Calypso Orchids, Calypso bulbosa, up. They are quite small, so it feels like you've found treasure if you spot them. Craig found a particularly large group of these orchids.

Each Calypso Orchid has one leaf which lays flat on the forest floor. Shirley managed to get a nice closeup of one. Since they are so tiny, they are hard to photograph, but Shirley manged it!

These native wildflowers grow in undisturbed forests. They are also called Fairy Slippers or Venus's slipper. Consider yourself lucky if you come across one or more of these beauties while on a forest walk.

Thanks to Shirley and Craig for allowing me to share their photos with you  here. To see much more of Craig's nature photography, here is the link to his website: www.ruffimage.com

We had a lot of rain overnight and it's showering today. We went over 50 inches season to date at our place in Anchor Bay, for which we are thankful!

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Richard Custer photographed this Arboreal Salamander, Aneides Lugubris, sauntering across his deck in Anchor Bay. It's the first sighting of one since I've been writing my Mendonoma Sightings column in the Independent Coast Observer - over 12 years!

I queried Gary Nafis, the owner of the fabulous website http://www.californiaherps.com/

He confirmed the ID and expressed surprise it was found this far north. The little salamander looks very determined as he/she moves across Richard's deck! Thanks to Richard for allowing me to share his photo with you here.

We have a break between storms today - a chance to dry out a bit.

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Mushrooms are quite beautiful, coming in so many colors and shapes. Craig Tooley photographed a Scarlet Waxy Cap. I've seen a bunch coming up on the forest floor. I think of them as flowers in the forest.

Craig also photographed a mature Parrot Waxy Cap. They have a green top when young.

Shirley Mitchell photographed some white Coral Mushrooms.

And Martin Steinpress found a group of two delicious edibles, Hedgehog Mushrooms and Black Trumpets.

Winter Chanterelles are also up in good numbers now. Gifts from the forest!

Thanks to Craig, Shirley and Martin for allowing me to share their photos with you here.

We are having a mild day - 60 degrees - with no wind. Our walk with our golden retriever, Duffy, at Gualala Point Regional Park today was wonderful. Gray Whale spouts could be seen in the calm ocean; these grays are headed north now. Big waves were crashing onto the beach. And there were surfers outside the mouth of the Gualala River, something you don't see very often.

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Eric Zetterholm often spots the mated pair of Bald Eagles that have made the Gualala River area their home. They have been seen mating just a few days ago. The male is in the foreground.

Eric found one of the Bald Eagles had snagged a Steelhead from the Gualala River. A group of Common Ravens tried their best to get the fish from the male, even pulling on the big eagle's tail feathers!

Thanks to Eric for allowing me to share his great photos with you here.

We saw the sun today after three days of pounding rain, and it seemed like everyone was smiling in downtown Gualala. We received 9.85 inches of rain from the river-of-rain event - one of the wettest storms we've ever experienced here. Our rain total season-to-date is 47.10 inches. A normal year for us is 50 inches, so we are in great shape this year.

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Julie Bower photographed the Gualala River on Tuesday and again this morning. After the river-of-rain deluges on Monday and Tuesday, the river full to the brim. By Wednesday morning the river was flowing completely over much of the sandbar.

So far, so good when it comes to this river. Other rivers, especially the Russian River, are flooding badly today. We received 9.60 inches from this rain event, bringing us to 47 inches season to date.

Thanks to Julie for allowing me to share her photos with you here.

Many roads are either flooded or blocked by landslides. With the Garcia River flooding Highway One north of Point Arena, and other roads south of Point Arena closed, we are effectively blocked on the coast today. If you are thinking of coming here, best to wait a few days.